Jacob Candelaria

Senator

Albuquerque, NM

Born and raised in Albuquerque, Jacob was first elected to the New Mexico state senate in 2012 at the age of 25. Since joining the Senate, Jacob has developed a proven track record of passing common sense, bipartisan legislation, aimed at improving the quality of life for all New Mexicans. Some of his legislative accomplishments include sponsoring and passing the Rural and Low Income Schools Broadband Act, which marks the single largest investment in broadband connectivity for public schools in state history; the Tax Payer Fairness Act, which created an independent administrative law process for families and businesses to resolve tax issues; the Carlos Vigil Bullying Prevention Memorial Act that creates a special board and fund to support bullying prevention work statewide; the Patient Continuity of Care Act that provides seniors and families with important protections to prevent unnecessary interruptions in their prescription drug coverage; and legislation calling for an end to the dangerous practice of using so-called “Reparative” or “Conversion” therapy on the LGBTQ community.

At a time when New Mexico’s economic recovery lags behind the rest of the nation, Jacob is committed to building a new infrastructure of opportunity that centers on investments in education and human potential. Jacob is a graduate of the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University, and a 2016 graduate, Cum Laude, of the University of New Mexico School of Law. Jacob is also the first openly gay man elected to the New Mexico legislature.